The figures in this statistical news release are based on collected data that contains quality deficiencies. Revised LFS figures have been published and are available here:

Labour Force Surveys

Statistics Sweden’s Statistical Report presents the labour market situation of the population. In the third quarter of 2018, there were 5 183 000 employed persons aged 15–74, up 79 000 from the corresponding quarter in 2017. The number of employed men increased by 48 000 to 2 726 000 and the number of employed women increased by 32 000 to 2 457 000. Among Swedish born persons, the number of employed persons increased by 33 000 to 4 150 000. Among foreign born persons, the corresponding increase was 46 000, which means there were 1 033 000 foreign born employed persons in the third quarter of 2018.

The employment rate, that is, the proportion of employed persons in the population, continued to increase in the third quarter and amounted to 69.4 percent. This corresponds to an increase of 0.5 percentage points compared with the same period in 2017. The employment rate among men was 71.8 percent, an increase by 0.7 percentage points, and among women it was 66.9 percent. Among Swedish born persons, the employment rate was 71.3 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage points. Among foreign born persons, the corresponding figure was 62.9 percent.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows continued positive growth in both the number and percentage of employed persons compared with adjacent quarters. The number of employed persons amounted to 5 115 000, which corresponds to an employment rate of 68.5 percent.

The number of employed persons continued to increase in Stockholm County, where it increased by 30 000 to 1 267 000 persons. In Västra Götaland County, the number of employed persons increased by 18 000 to 884 000 persons and in Östergötland County the number of employed persons amounted to 231 000, an increase of 9 000 persons. In Jämtland County, the number of employed persons increased by 4 000 to 69 000.

There were 4 689 000 employees, up by 77 000 compared with the third quarter of 2017. Men accounted for 2 367 000 of the employees, up by 45 000, and women accounted for 2 322 000, up by 32 000. This increase was due to an increased number of permanent employees in the third quarter of 2018, 3 868 000 in total, up by 83 000 compared with the corresponding quarter in the previous year. There were 821 000 temporary employees.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows that the number of permanently employed persons continued to increase, while the number of temporarily employed persons continued to decrease.

The number of employees in the private sector continued to increase and amounted to 3 121 000. This corresponds to an increase of 33 000 compared with the same quarter in the previous year. The number of employees in the municipal sector also increased, by 26 000 to 1 211 000. There were 308 000 employees in the central government sector.

In the third quarter of 2018, the number of hours worked was, on average, 139.7 million hours per week, non-seasonally adjusted. This is an increase of 2.1 million hours, calendar adjusted. Men worked, on average, 79.1 million hours, an increase of 1.3 million hours. Women worked 60.5 million hours per week.

There were 335 000 unemployed persons aged 15–74 in the third quarter of 2018. Among unemployed persons there were 170 000 men and 165 000 women. Among Swedish born persons, the number of unemployed persons decreased by 18 000 to 153 000. Among foreign born persons, the number of unemployed was 182 000 persons. The unemployment rate was 6.1 percent. Among women, the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent and among men it was 5.9 percent. Among Swedish born persons, unemployment decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 3.6 percent and among foreign born persons, the unemployment rate was 15.0 percent.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows an increase in both the number and the percentage of unemployed persons compared with adjacent quarters. The unemployment rate was 6.4 percent, and there were 351 000 unemployed persons.

There were 92 000 persons available but not seeking work in the third quarter of 2018, which corresponds to an increase of 22 000 persons compared with the same quarter in the previous year.

Among young people in the labour force aged 15-24, 14.2 percent were unemployed, which corresponds to 93 000 persons, 28 000 of whom are full-time students. Among young men, 15.2 percent were unemployed and among women in the same age group, 13.0 percent were unemployed.

Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows an increase in both the number and the percentage of unemployed persons among young people compared with adjacent quarters.

Between the second and third quarter of 2018, flow statistics indicate a net outflow of many persons aged 15–74 years from the group “Not in the labour force” to either “employment” or “unemployment”. Many persons have also moved from “unemployment” to “employment”.

The labour market at a glance, third quarter 2018

Non-seasonally adjusted values (seasonally adjusted and smoothed values are given in brackets).

Population aged 15-74:

• The employment rate was 69.4 percent (68.5 percent), up by 0.5 percentage points.
• The number of employed persons was 5 183 000 (5 115 000), up by 79 000 persons compared with the third quarter 2017.
• The unemployment rate was 6.1 percent (6.4 percent.
• The number of unemployed persons was 335 000 (351 000).
• The economic activity rate was 73.9 percent (73.2 percent).
• The number of persons in the labour force was 5 518 000 (5 467 000), up by 75 000 persons compared with the third quarter 2017.

Population aged 20-64:

• The employment rate was 83.3 percent (82.5 percent), up by 0.6 percentage points.
• The unemployment rate was 5.6 percent (5.9 percent).

A more detailed report on the labour market situation for the entire population aged 15-74 is available in the Statistical Report on the third quarter in 2018.